UCAS is at the heart of connecting people to higher education.

UCAS is the world’s leading shared admissions service for higher education. We provide application services for UK universities and colleges as well as delivering a wide range of research, consultancy and advisory services to schools, colleges, careers services, professional bodies and employers.

We’re a successful and fast-growing organisation, which helps hundreds of thousands of people every year. We're committed to delivering a first-class service to all of our customers — they're at the heart of everything we do.

The Digital Services business unit is at the heart of UCAS’ technical innovation, data and infrastructure. It focuses on leveraging data science, technology, and enterprise architecture to enhance UCAS' digital products and services.

The unit is dedicated to developing and improving customer-centric digital solutions, ensuring seamless and secure online experiences for all users. By providing insightful data and analysis, often made available to anyone with free-to-use intuitive dashboard, Digital Services empowers the Higher Education sector and those interested in the sector with valuable information to make informed decisions. By working in collaborative, expert led, multi-disciplinary teams, Digital Services drives UCAS’ mission to connect students with their next opportunities through advanced technological solutions.

Reporting to the Head of IT Operations, the Technical Operations Lead is responsible for the technical oversight and management of the UCAS IT production estate. They will provide technical leadership working closely with colleagues in architecture, data science, product and Platform engineering, IT Operations and external partners and suppliers to ensure a stable, high performing production estate.

They will play a leading role in ensuring technology readiness for key events such as Confirmation and Clearing, being the IT Operations technical lead.

They will contribute to technical strategy and ensure its robust implementation.

They will provide technical leadership with regards to supplier management, ensure all suppliers and 3rd parties perform according to required SLAs and to industry best practices.

They will be responsible for subject matter expertise and management oversight of the on-premise data centre, network, end user computing and building technology.

Key accountabilities:

• Provide technical leadership with regards to supplier management, ensuring all suppliers and 3rd parties perform according to required SLAs and to best industry practices.

• Oversee and build relationships with suppliers and create cost effective contracts that meet organisational needs, working in collaboration with colleagues in the Commercial team

• Lead technology supplier performance reviews.

For a full job description see attached role profile.

• Extensive experience of leadership in the operational Support or software development.

• Able to evidence expert knowledge/experience and understanding of the following technologies; Windows Server 2016 onwards, Microsoft technologies (Azure, O365, SharePoint, Windows Server, Active Directory, DNS, and .Net architectures, Linux (Red Hat/Ubuntu), SAN storage. Server hardware, Virtualisation (VMware), Backups & DR, Database – Oracle, Networking fundamentals, Cloud, preferably AWS, Active Directory, Group Policy, SCCM, VPN, Atlassian (Jira, Confluence, BitBucket), Automation, Monitoring

• Significant experience of managing third party suppliers and /or a technology partner (including with offshore capability). Being able to demonstrate the ability to assess cost effectiveness of supplier/partner services and contracts and maximise their benefit to UCAS.

• Knowledge and proven experience in operating in a agile environment, agile ways of working, specifically scaled agile (SAFe).

• Solid understanding of standardised IT Operations functions such as ITIL. ITIL V3 or V4 certification or be able to demonstrate equivalent understanding of ITIL practices.

• Strong planning and organisational skills, including the ability to manage several workstreams simultaneously.

• The ability to perform well under pressure, with strong problem-solving and negotiating skills.

• Substantial experience in people leadership and management, including the ability to manage

Salary - up to - £83,000

• 30 days annual leave (plus 3 concessionary days over Christmas and your bank holidays!)


• Flexibility – UCAS positively supports Hybrid working for its employees, meaning you can work between home and the office in a way that suits you and the business and also has a comprehensive Flexible Working Policy


• A generous pension scheme

• Hundreds of high street discounts and offers with Perkbox

• Internal training and development

• Subsidised gym and café

• Be rewarded for going above and beyond with our ex-gratia bonus scheme and Celebrating U, our quarterly employee recognition scheme

• Dedicated volunteer employee networks promoting wellbeing, awareness and inclusion